India consumer trends show rapid rise in AI-driven shopping

Recent studies indicate a significant shift toward AI-driven consumer behavior in India, particularly within the automotive and festive retail sectors. A joint study by Google and Kantar reveals that 93% of Indian automobile shoppers utilize AI surfaces during their research phase. The research highlights that buyers navigate an average of 7.8 touchpoints, with 87% engaging with Google platforms such as Search, YouTube, Maps, and Gemini to evaluate complex specifications and financing options.

Parallel trends are emerging in the broader retail landscape. An InMobi report suggests that India’s festive shopping season will be characterized by shorter purchase windows and increased reliance on AI tools. Approximately 80% of consumers expressed interest in AI shopping assistants, while 89% showed interest in smart search suggestions. The report also notes that brand trust is becoming a more critical conversion factor than discounts, with 96% of shoppers planning to maintain or increase their spending budgets.